# Learning MOO Programming

Adam Summers (kephren@skylink.net)
Fri, 3 May 1996 05:25:31 PDT

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      I have been sitting on the sidelines for quite a while now.
    Occasionally we see a wizard who asks what seems to be a simple
    question.  We all agree that these people shouldn't be given the power of
    being a wizard, but what can we do?  There is no structured method of
    learning moo programming.  Especially for someone who doesn't have any
    programming experience.  I am making an attempt to remedy that situation.
      I have brought up a small moo on my machine using WinMOO.  The entire
    purpose of this moo is to teach programming.  I am in the process of
    writing a set of tasks that a player must go through in order to prove
    exper programming ability.  It won't be easy, and it would take a newbie
    months to get through.  But they would come out of the program as a
    better programmer.  They will have gained the knowledge they need in
    order to be a useful wizard.  I am attempting to create a structured
    learning environment.
      Why would anyone want to sign on to a moo that they have to work?  Here
    is my plan.  They will want to learn because there will be incentive to
    learn.  Everyone signs on as a builder, and in order to get a programmer
    bit, they have to show building skills.  It is outlined in ?progbit what
    they need to do.  Once they have *earned* their programmer bit, they can
    then work toward earning a wizard bit.  This is a huge incentive for
    anyone who has never had a wizard bit.  I know all of you have gotten the
    newbies on your moo that barely know how to describe themselves and they
    want a wizbit.  Seems that some of you even gave them one.  On my moo,
    they will have to go through a large series of steps that prove they have
    learned to program in order to get a wizbit.
      What does this accomplish?  The people that make it through the program
    will be competant programmers.  Other new moos may elect to draw their
    new wizards from my pool of "graduates" even.  It gives players incentive
    to actually learn.
      What security precautions have I taken?  Players are not required to
    register their email addresses.  The reason being that anyone has the
    ability to earn a wizard bit there.  Also, $network.active will remain
    0 (not that it matters with WinMOO).  I will not be installing anything
    fancy such as FUP.  It's a bare core will no frills.  New wizards may be
    required to divulge their email address to me as a personal security
    precaution.  Is it dangerous to give _anyone_ a wizard bit?  Yes, I'll
    admit there is a slight risk.  But I feel that if anyone takes the time
    to work through the entire program just to get a wizbit in order to cause
    trouble, then there is no stopping them from causing damage as a plain
    programmer anyhow.
      Sounds great!  What are the problems?  Since I'm running the moo off of
    my PC, I have to bring it down every day.  Every time it comes back up,
    it's at a different dialup port.  This makes it hard for players to
    find.  Also, I won't be able to use the phone lines for hours each day
    starting in 1 month.  My roommates would kill me in my sleep ;)  I
    seriously need someone to donate space on their machine.  If you have
    room on yours, just remember what a noble cause it is.  The moo
    population can benefit greatly from a project such as this.  Another,
    perhaps larger problem is this:  I need help writing ?wizbit.  It has to
    be written as if a person who has never programmed before is going to be
    going through it.  It has to cover every aspect of programming, and it
    has to be simple.  That's impossible!  You must be crazy!  No.  Not at
    all.  When I started, I knew nothing.  Now, although I am still learning
    new things every day, I feel I am a competant programmer/wizard.  But I
    would be much better off if I had had a structured programming
    environment in which to learn.
      I would greatly appreciate feedback/suggestions and if you have a lead
    on a site, or if you can afford to donate space on your machine, we
    really need it.  If you are on Lambda, Rupert, Moo2000, or Aqua, feel
    free to page me.  Otherwise, go ahead and email me.

    Adam Summers
    (a.k.a. Kephren)
    kephren@skylink.net